Knife



H. VOSSLER May 5, 1953 lKNIFE:

2 SHEETS-SHEET l Filed Jan. 13, 1948 INVENTOA HENQ Y VossL 2 76 A 17' TORNEY May 5, 1953 H. vossLER KNIFE Filed Jan. 13, 1948` 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR. HENRY VOSSLE'Q Patented May 5, 1953 UNTLED TATES PATENT OFFICE KNIFE Henry fVos'sl'er, Providence, iR. assigner fte Immer-iai Knife Company, Inc., Providence, iR. L, .a corporation fof Rhode Island 4application January 13, 19.48 ,SeriaLN'a A52'0179 (C1. Bil-4155552) This "invention relates to knives, and, more particularly, 'pertains to `irmziroved pre-assembled ornamental covering units for knife fra-mes `of the 'type shown, described claimed in U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,281,783, l'issued May 5, 1942.

lt is an object of the present invention to provide ornamental Acovering units, of `the chari acter described which lare more rug-ged and durable 'than the `units shown in 'sai-d earlier patent.

lt is 'another object of this invention to provide ornamental covering 'un-its 'of Vthe character described which, Idespite their increased strength and life, rare but little, if any, more Aerqafensive -to make than the units illustrated in said, earlier patent.

-v.[-t is -an additional object of this invention to provide 'ornamental covering units of 'the character described which are `capa-ble off maintaining 'their proper `assembled position A'on Ilrnlife frames throughout long and `hard use.

@ther objects of this invention will in part 'be obvious and in vpart be pointed `out hereinafter.

The 'inventionacoordingly rconsists in the features of construction, combi-nations .of elements and arrangements of carts `which will be exemplied inthe constructions hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the appended claims.

"In the accompanying drawings in which are shown various possible embodiments of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a side lview of a jacklmife having fa covering unit embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the knife shown in Fig. 3 is -a plan View of the Vunders1nfaoe of the pre'asseinblecl covering unit;

Fig. 4 is a sectional VView taken `substarrtially along the line '4 4 of Fig. '3:

lig. `5 is `a ysectional View taken substantially along the line 5-'5 ofF'ig. l.;

Fig. 6 is a .sectional View taken substantially along the 'line iii-6 .of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 3 of .a Acovering unit embodying another modified :form `of v my invention;

Figs. 8 and 9 :are sectional lviews .taken substant'ally along :the lines l8---3 and 9--9, 'respectively, yof Figfi;

Fig. 1Y0 is :a side view 'of a lkniife iframe adapted to have mounted thereon a covering unit such as shown in Fig. 7';

' .ig. 1'1 is a view similar to Fig. r8 of a coverering unit rembodying ystill 'another modified form ofgmy invention;

ilg. i2 Lis a side view of a v`knife-trarne adapted to receive a covering unit such as shown vin Figli;

Figs. 13 'and 14 uare views similar to Fig. 1'1 covering yet other :modified forms 'of lmy inventieni;

Fig. 15 is a figure similar to Fig. '3 icfa covering unit embodying ,yet a further modified vform 'of inyinvention; 'and ligs. lfd land ,17 'are sectional views taken substant'ially along the vlines `l`'Ni-fili and Hu-ll, respectively, of Fig. lli.

1n genera-1, I achieve the several obects of invention by providing va @reassembled Yornamental covering unit :which includes an 'ernah menta-l cover plate `whose configuration, essen tially, corresponds 4to the con-iig-uration -of the knife frame fon which fthe covering unit is ito be mounted. This covering plate is provided with one 'or more holsters not connected to each other by lany metal member integral therewith. "The holsters overlie vportions of the cover plate being disposed in certain regions, e. g., at the ends of the :cover plate, in a marmer 'Well knoW-n to the art. Said bolster-s :are held 'Sto the cover plate by means integral `with the holst-,ers so that the holsters and cover plate :can be assembled 'as Ia unit before they :are mounted and attached to the .frame of aknlife.

:Prefer/ably, .means also included which is integral vwith the holsters and is adapted to secure the holsters, and therefore the covering unit, to :a knife frame. .Because of @the usual .location of the holsters :at the 'ends :of the cover lpl'ate, which conventionally is elongated, *this mounting means Afor the covering unit is subject to the defect that the center or the .cover y.plate tends to "move away from .the knife zframe. vSuch defect can be -squite serious, commercially, iunder Acertain condi-tions, Las, for example, when the cover plate is vsomewhat .iex-ible `.and the .knife 'frame is a little too short for fthe lcovering iunit. lf, under these circumstances, the bolsters .are forced together :during vmount-ing Vof :the covering uni-t fon the v:knife plate, they .cause :the :cover plate to spring away from the knife frame. 'This defect can occur frequently since the cover platesusually are `haalde from 1a, .synthetic plastic and thereA fore are :unable to resist compressive stress Without buckling to leave a slight but undesirable space between the cover .fplate and knife frame near the center of the covering unit. 'in addition, the ycover plates roocasion-ally are of 'such congurations that they tend to be weak in certain areas and thus tend to crack or twist in these areas. Furthermore, during long or hard use the cover plates sometimes warp between the bolsters.

Pursuant to the present invention, these defects and others are avoided by reinforcing the cover plate externally at one or more points intermediate the bolsters. The reinforcment can be accomplished in various manners, as will be seen hereinafter, and, in general, is achieved by employing a stiffening member, independent of the knife frame, which member is disposed beneath and connected to at least that portion of the cover plate between the bolsters.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. l throught, S denotes a jackknife having any suitable 'type of frame 32. Said frame comprises a set of blades 3d. 36, 38 of which the two knife blades 34, 38 are pivotally mounted on a rivet 40, by and connecting a pair of parallel upper and lower lining plates 42, M. An intermediate plate 4B separates the knife blades Sil, 36. The other blade 38, as illustrated, comprises a reamer and is pivotally mounted on a rivet 63, secured to the upper and lower mounting plates at the opposite end of the knife frame. The usual heavy block springs 56, 52 are provided to hold the blades in either closed or open position. As is customary in the art, a central rivet Ell (not shown) maintains the centers of the various elements of the knife frame in proper position.v The heads of all the rivets, i. e. the rivets 40, 48 and 5t extend above the surface of the lining plates d2, di.

I provide an ornamental covering unit 90 to overlie the otherwise exposed surface of each of the outer lining plates 42, 44. Inasmuch as said lining plates are identical in each of the forms of my invention herein set forth, only one plate will be described for each form. The covering includes an ornamental elongated cover plate 60 and a pair of separate bolsters G2, Gi. The cover plate is made from any suitable decorative material such, for example, as celluloid, synthetic resins of the phenol or urea formaldehyde condensation type, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, styrene, polyacrylic resins, hard rubber, or the like, and is of appreciable thickness so that when not abnormally stressed, it will maintain its shape. The exposed longitudinal edges of the cover plate are of substantially the same contour as the underlying edges of the lining plates 42, 44.

The underside of the cover plate is provided with suitable indentations 66, 68, "i0, 'l2 to accommodate the heads of the various rivets, and other indentations whose positions and purpose will be described hereinafter.

The upper side or outer surface of the cover plate is fashioned, either by a material removing operation or during the molding thereof, with a set of markings which cause the plate to resemble a hand-tooled stag knife handle. These mark-` ings may comprise a large number of shallow elongated indentations which taper towardfthe opposite ends thereof and run in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cover plate.

The bolsters G2, t4 preferably are fabricated from thin strong material such as sheet metal. One bolster is disposed over each end of the elongated ornamental cover plate. Said bolsters are so dimensioned with respect to the ends of the ornamental cover plate that the outer "surfaces of the bolsters constitute smooth, flush continuations of the outer surface of the cover plate adjacent the ends thereof. In addition, the edges of the bolsters are a smooth flush continuation of the longitudinal edges of the cover plate. Moreover, the edges of the bolster, like the longitudinal edges of the cover plate, substantially conform to the contour of the underlying edges of the lining plate. To these ends, the portions of the cover plate which are overlain by the bolsters are reduced in size by an amount substantially equal to the thickness of the sheet metal comprising the bolsters.

I also provide means integral with the bolsters for positively and firmly attaching the same to the cover plate. Said means comprises an element, herein shown in the form of an integral tine or projection T4, extending from the center ofthe edge of the bolster which runs across the cover plate. The tine passes through an opening 'IB in the cover plate and is bent over to lie in a recess 'i8 on the underside of said plate where said tine is firmly clinched in position. It' will be appreciated from inspection of Fig. 4 that when the tines are disposed in the manner just described, the two bolsters will be tightly and permanently attached to the decorative cover plate and when said cover plate is mounted on the knife frame, these tines will be substantially concealed.

Suitable means also is provided for attaching the bolsters 62, {5L} to the knife frame. For this purpose there is employed another integral projection or tine 8l) which projects from the narrow end or tip of the bolster. Said projection, after the bolsters and cover plate have been assembled into the unit shown in Fig. 4, extends away from the bottom surface of the unit.

The knife frame upon which this type of unit is mounted is provided with a pair of pockets 82 at each end of the lining plates, these pockets being so positioned and constructed that they are adapted to receive the projections 80. The projections are folded into the pockets after the pre-assembled unit has been properly positioned upon the knife frame. As seen from Figs. 1 and 4, the projections 83 after being folded to lie within their associated pockets are disposed almost entirely within the periphery of the bolsters and only will be barely noticeable upon the exterior of the knife. Because of the elevation of the pockets above the general level of the lining plates, the recess 'F8 which receives the clinched projection '14 is extended to accommodate said pockets.

Pusuant to my invention, the covering unit includes means for reinforcing the same whereby the portion of said cover plate intermediate the bolsters is stiffened The cover plate Gil is specially shaped to receive the reenforcing means. To this end the coverl plate is formed with a channel 92 in its undersurface, the channel extending from the recess 18 at one end of the cover plate to the like recess at the other end of the cover plate. Said reenforcing means constitutes a strip 94 of sheet steel or the like strong material which is fully-received in the channel 92. Suitable means is included to hold this strip in place flat against the back of the cover plate. Such means may comprise a pair of rivets 9B, 98, which extend through openings IUD in the cover plate and are headed over on the underside of the strip 94.

The strip may include means to permanently and rigidly connect the strip to a knife frame.

Such' means, .in the `form :ci the :invention under discussion comprises a time f||i2 struck out .from the strip somewhere between its ends, optionally near center of thestrip as shown. This -tine is passed through an opening H34 in the upper lining plate lf2 and the -tip thereof ,bent over to lie against the interior .surface fof the lining plate. Preferably, the tip is `directed toward the block .springs dii, 52 so as not to ,interfere with closing of the blades. .If the blades -arelof such type that `they lill up the blade compartment in the region where :the tines :are bent rover., the openings ed may .form kparts of pockets accommodate the bent over tips of the tines,

much in the same yfashion .that the pockets 582 l accommodate the rtines .89.

In the remaining figures .I yhave sho-Wn `cover-- ing units embodying various .modified formsofmy invention wiiere'in other arrangements are provided for stiffening the portion-of .title-.cover plate `between the holsters. Basicalln the cov-er plate and lholsters yof ,thesemodied for-ms are similar to those of the coveringlunit already described, and .the .knife frames .on which these modified covering .units are adapted Ato be .mounted likewise `are generally .similar to the `knife frame .described with .reference to the first embodiment of 4my invention. Accordingly, .in ,order to vshorten the .description of .these modified ycovering units and of .the parts .of the -lmife .frame-s to which .they vare attached, all .elements ofthe covering units .and knife frames which :are substantially similar .to the :elements already described will be denoted 'by the vsame ,referencenumerals Instead of holding the strip 94 in Iplace with rivets, the .tine '-'M `caro'be employed vto ,perform such function, as lshown 'in Athe covering unit l|'||| which is illustrated in Figs. 7 through 10. In this `covering unit the groove 92 accommodates a sheet metal strip |12 Which is longer yand somewhat heavier than the strip -94 to enable it to extend over the through openings 'ls which pass the tines 14. Depressed areas 'l |3 of vsaid strip ||2 are provided with apertures ||4 in registry with the openings 1.6 so that .the 4tines T4 can be clenched against the exposed :undersurf'ace of the `strip 2 and therebi7 hold the strip @against the undersurface of the cover plate, in .addition to vholding the bolsters against the top surface of said cover plate. The strip ||2 is provided with a tine H6 which is identical to the tine |02 and is adapted to be received in the opening |04 in the lining plate (see Fig. 10). After insertion through the lining plate, the tip of the tine llt is bent over to hold the center of the ornamental covering unit against the knife frame.

The covering unit |28 shown in Figs. 11 and 12 employs a different arrangement for holding down its center to the knife frame. Instead of having the through opening |14, the outer lining plate is provided With an integral projecting spike |22, which, during assembly of the knife, is embedded in the underside of the cover plate 6). Optionally, the cover plate can be formed with an indentation |24 in its undersurface slightly smaller than the spike in order to facilitate embedding of the latter. The cover plate may be preheated for the same purpose, if made from a thermoplastic substance such, for instance, as cellulose acetate butyrate.

yCovering' units |30 and |35 embodying other modied forms of my invention are shown in Figs. 13 and 14, respectively. These units differ from the units ||IJ illustrated in Figs. 3 and 7 respectively in that the tines |02 and ||6 are omitted, reliance vbein-g placed :on the stiifness `of the strips 94., 1| 5|.-2 to reinforce the cover plate BIL IBret another modied form lof ymy invention is disclosed in the ornamental covering unit |40 shown in Figs. 15 through 17. ,In this unit, reinforcement -of the lcover plate A|50 is 'obtained .by providing :a .metal ,plate '|42 which underlies 'substantially the entire 'undersurface A,of the cover plate. Said metal plate has its peripheral edges in .registry with the longitudinal .edges 1.of the -c'overplata and with the side .edges fof :the bolsters i'B-Z, v,(54. The metal j-plate has notches Mt at .its opposite ends which ro verlie the recesses 1B., and `are Iprovided :order 'to :accommodate the pockets U.S2 in the out-er lining plate. Depressed straps Mii integral -with 'the `metal :plate |42 bridge the notches |44 neartheir innerclosed ends whereby -fto lprovide .slots |48 which .receive the .tines .14.. When the Ytips of .said tines are turned yover, k'they `serve to hold the ,meta-l ,plate |4=2 against the undersurface of .the :cover plate.

.It -thus abe seen that ,Ihave 4provided.knives which .achieve the several objects of my invention and are well .adapted lto meet the :conditions of ypractical use..

As various possible embodiments .mig-ht be made -of the `:above invention, land 1as various changes 'might be `made :in the embodiments above .set forth, it is to be understood that all matter `herein described .-or shown Vrin the accompanying drawings .is to lbe interpreted as illustrative and not in .a limiting sense.

.Having thus described my invention, `I .claim as 'new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A pre-assembled ornamental `cover unit for a knife frame having an youter .lining plate, said unit comprising a A,pai-r of .separate lbolster-s, an elongated, thick, preformed, ornamental zover plate, whose ilongitudinaliedges 'are .adapted to :be arranged ccezr-tensively with the corresponding longitudinal `'edges :of the .knife frame, each of said holsters -.having integral attaching means which sensitively fand .firmly holds said bolster to said -`cover plate, ya zstienin'g member ybeneath said l'cm/er plate and adapted .to be disposed on the `outer 'surface .of saidklining plate, said stiftening member :having a gportionextending between said holsters, and :means to vsecu-re said stiftening member to said cover plate.

2. A pre-assembled ornamental cover unit for a knife frame having an outer lining plate, said unit comprising a pair of separate holsters, an elongated, thick, preformed, ornamental cover plate, whose longitudinal edges are adapted to be arranged coextensively with the corresponding longitudinal edges of the knife frame, each of said holsters having integral attaching means which positively and firmly holds said bolster to said cover plate, a stiffening member beneath said cover plate and adapted to be disposed on the outer surface of said lining plate, said stiftening member having a portion extending between said holsters, and means to secure said stiffening member to said cover plate at at least one point intermediate the holsters.

3. In combination in a knife including a knife frame having an outer lining plate, an elongated, thick preformed cover plate, a pair of separate bolsters, one overlying each end of the cover plate, each of said holsters having integral attaching means which positively and firmly holds said bolster to said cover plate, each of said bolsters having integral attaching means which positively and firmly holds said bolster to the knife frame, a stiffening member beneath said cover plate having a portion extending between the holsters, said stiiening member being disposed on the outer surface of said lining plate, and means securing said stiffening member to said cover plate.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein the means for holding the holsters to the cover plate secures the stiifening member to the cover plate.

5. In combination with a knife comprising a knife frame having an outer lining plate, a covering unit including an elongated, thick, preformed, ornamental cover plate, a pair of separate sheet metal holsters Whose longitudinal edges are arranged coextensively with the corresponding edges of the knife frame, said holsters overlying the ends of said cover plate, means to secure the holsters to the cover plate. means to secure the holsters to the knife frame, a stilening member beneath said cover plate having a portion extending between the holsters, said stiiening member being disposed on the outer surface of said lining plate, and rivets to secure said stiffening member to said cover plate.

6. In combination with a knife comprising a knife frame having an outer lining plate, a covering unit including an elongated, thick, preformed, ornamental cover plate, a pair of separate sheet metal holsters whose longitudinal edges are arranged coextensively with the corresponding edges of the knife frame, said holsters overlying the ends of said cover plate, means to secure the holsters to the cover plate, means-to secure the holsters to the knife frame, and a stiening member beneath said cover plate having a portion extending between said holsters, said stiffening member being disposed on the outer surface of said lining plate, the means for securing said holsters to saidcover plate also serving to secure the stiffening member to the cover plate.

rI. In combination with a knife comprising a knife frame having outer lining plates, a covering unit including an elongated, thick, preformed, ornamental cover plate, a pair of separate sheet metal holsters Whose longitudinal edges are arranged coextensively with the corresponding edges of the knife frame, said holsters overlying the ends of said cover plate, means to secure the holsters to the cover plate, means to secure the holsters to the knife frame, said cover plate being formed with a groove along its undersurface, a stiifening member lying in said groove and extending between said bolsters, and means to secure said stiifening member to said cover plate.

8. In combination with a knife comprising a knife frame having outer lining plates, a covering unit including an elongated, thick, preformed, ornamental cover plate, a pair of separate sheet metal holsters Whose longitudinal edges are arranged coextensively With the corresponding edges of the knife frame, said holsters overlying the ends of said cover plate, means to secure the holsters to the cover plate, means to secure the holsters to the knife frame, a stiffening member beneath said cover plate, and means to secure said stiifening member to said cover plate, said stiffening member having a projection which is received in an openingl in an outer lining plate, the tip of said projection being bent to lie against the inner surface of the lining plate. 9. In combination with a knife comprising a knife frame having an outer lining plate, a covering unit including an elongated, thick, preformed, ornamental cover plate, a pair of separate sheet metal holsters Whose longitudinal edges are arranged coextensively with the corresponding edges of the knife frame, said holsters overlying the ends of said cover plate, means to secure the holsters to the cover plate, means to secure the holsters to the knife frame, a stiffening plate interposed between the undersurface of the cover plate and the outer surface of the lining plate, the edges of said stifening plate coinciding with the longitudinal edges of the cover plate, and means to secure said stiflening plate to the cover plate.

HENRY VOSSLER.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 968,463 Gorsline Aug. 23, 1910 2,170,537 Mirando et al Aug. 22, 1939 2,281,782 Mirando May 5, 1942 2,281,783 Mirando May 5, 1942 2,303,302 Paolantonio Nov. 24, 1942 

